Courtside View: Celtics, and their stars, are at a crossroads

Before the final, gripping lines of the last chapter in Celtics history were written, the next chapter had already begun in Game 6 of Friday night’s playoff elimination game against the New York Knicks.

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted May. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 4, 2013 at 4:23 AM

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted May. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 4, 2013 at 4:23 AM

BOSTON

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Before the final, gripping lines of the last chapter in Celtics history were written, the next chapter had already begun in Game 6 of Friday night’s playoff elimination game against the New York Knicks.

Down 26 in the fourth quarter, and 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, the Celtics made their final stand. Only it wasn’t Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce leading the charge as they did so many times over their past six seasons together in green. It was Jeff Green whom the ball went through on every offensive possession, and Avery Bradley wreaking havoc on every defensive stop.

Each scored 10 points as part of a 26-4 run that had the Celtics down just four points with less than three minutes to go in what would have been the greatest game comeback in NBA playoff history, as part of what the Celtics hoped would be the greatest series comeback in NBA playoff history as the first team to ever win a series after trailing 3-0.

"Being the guy who was the go-to guy on this team," Green described of the rally, "I just decided, since nothing else was going for us, why not try to get some momentum by taking it strong to the hole, and getting fouls, and trying to knock down shots?"

It was an eye-opening declaration for a player who needed constant prodding just to take any shot while playing alongside Ray Allen, Garnett and Pierce following his trade from Oklahoma City in 2011, and who took much of this season to warm up to his current star status after missing last year following open-heart surgery.

Then, with the game nearly there for the taking, the Celtics went back to the old standards Friday night to ill results. A turnover and 3-pointer from Pierce capped a regrettable performance where the captain scored just 14 points with five turnovers on 4-for-18 shooting — including 1-for-9 on 3-pointers. Garnett was a warrior in going 41 minutes just two weeks shy of his 37th birthday, but while he finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, he went scoreless and shotless in the fourth quarter comeback.

That comeback belonged to Bradley and Green, as perhaps more and more the future of this team does as well.

"I was just trying to pick up my defensive intensity and get everybody going," Bradley said. "I feel like the steals fired everybody up, and we just rallied, and started playing transition basketball, which is one of our strengths."

Only it is no longer the strength of Pierce outside of his ability to fire long outlet passes with pinpoint accuracy, and it is no longer the strength of Garnett, who is often now forced to conserve energy by lumbering up the court after a defensive rebound.

That is the reality facing Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers, as well as Garnett and Pierce, and even Rajon Rondo in the upcoming weeks.

Page 2 of 3 - Rondo left the city early on Friday and was not with the team for its playoff finale after spending much of the first round on the bench. Following his knee surgery to repair a torn ACL, he stayed away for two months before showing back up in the final weeks of the regular season.

By contrast, Green — who was waived following his surgery last January and not even technically a member of the organization — was back in the locker room supporting his past and future teammates three weeks after a nine-hour, open-heart procedure.

While Ainge and Rivers would surely love to have future Hall of Famers Garnett and Pierce back for one more tour before Nos. 5 and 34 hit the rafters, Friday night’s fourth quarter was an example of how hard it will be moving forward while still clinging to the past. Garnett and Pierce combine to cost more than $26 million on the payroll of a team that is pressed firmly up against the hard salary cap. Add in Rondo’s $11 million, and you are halfway to the hard cap number.

Whether Ainge seeks to finally give the team some relief while exercising the $5 million buyout option on Pierce’s deal will go a long way toward setting the tone for a summer of rebuilding, or another summer of recalibrating.

"That’s a question for Danny Ainge and his team to figure out," a solemn Pierce said after it was over, "so I have no idea."

While refusing to discuss any potential retirement, Garnett did indicate the future of himself and that of Pierce in Boston has been, and will continue to be, linked.

"One of the big reasons I came here was because of Paul," Garnett said. "Obviously, you know you want to be in a situation where it’s better, want to make sure I can always help the team, want to be in position to where I’m giving something.

"I demand a lot out of myself, both physically and from a skill level. I’ll be honest, or I’ll be lying to you, if I said Paul didn’t play in to that."

Garnett said he, Pierce and Rivers will sit down at some point in the next few weeks to talk it out. By then, they hope to get a sense of what Ainge is thinking with Pierce, and what they can realistically expect out of the team, and themselves, after six years together.

In the past, that conversation would have also included Allen. But with him gone to Miami this season, the old guard is down to three. By July 1, it could be down to two, or one, or even none.

Perhaps then there will be a meeting among Bradley, Green and Jared Sullinger to talk about where the franchise goes from here. Perhaps that meeting will even include Rondo, if he happens to be around.

Page 3 of 3 - It was all part of the cloud of uncertainty that hung over the team Friday night as the players loaded trash bags full of sneakers and headed for the Garden exits one last time. The skies of a magical fourth quarter held the hope of a brighter future ahead, yet the end result and immediate aftermath warned of some stormy days before this franchise gets there.

Scott Souza can be reached at 781-398-8006 or ssouza@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @scott_souza.